The Audible 2022 | Looking to reset, Foreman Gators welcome Coach Jackson to the swamp

FOREMAN, Ark. -- Forty-two wins and a Class 2A state championship in the past five years.

Unfortunately for Foreman, though, only two of those victories came last season after the Gators finished 2-9 and had one of their worse seasons since 2015 -- when that team finished with just one win.

Now, after a coaching carousel in the Class 2A, Region 3 conference that saw a majority of its coaches leave and join rival schools within the league, Foreman welcomes new head coach Jarrod Jackson to the mix to help the program get back to the winning tradition in which it enjoyed four of the past five seasons.

And he's already making changes to help, starting with the weight room.

Jackson, who comes to Southwest Arkansas after coaching five years at West Memphis, has amped up the team's strength training facility during the offseason.

"One of the things about our team currently is we're not that strong," Jackson told the Gazette. "I have redone the weight room and we have spent about $2,100 on equipment. We are going to pump iron every single day we have an opportunity.

"Seriously, every chance we get now and throughout the season, we will make a point in getting stronger."

Prior to his time at West Memphis, Jackson coached at Camden Fairview for two years and, before that, was a graduate assistant at Henderson State University for two years and a student assistant under Reddie coach Scott Maxfield for two years.

"Foreman has had a lot of success and that's one of the things that drew my attention to this job," he said. "Our numbers aren't the best, but I would be lying to you if I said I didn't think we could compete for a conference championship, make the playoffs and make a run for a state championship.

"That's the ultimate goal."

OFFENSE

Offensively, the Gators will try to make the shift to a power spread system and be more of a pro-style team.

"I want to be able to power counter the inside and outside zones," Jackson said. "But, mostly, it all depends on what I think our guys can do the best -- and that's where we will really hang our hat.

Senior quarterback Hunter Fowler (6-4, 175 pounds) returns this year after a season where he threw for more than 800 yards and six touchdown passes to lead the pro-style offense.

"Hunter has a really good arm," Jackson said. "He's tall and can see over the top and he can make those throws you want him to. I'm impressed with him, I really am."

A big question mark that lingers going into the season is the running game and who will step up to fill that void since all-stater Tyrance Marks, who rushed for 1,300 yards and and 10 touchdowns his sophomore season, transferred to Ashdown at the end of the school year.

"I don't have a burner at running back," Jackson said. "As long as we can create the gaps and space where we can get three, four or seven yards a carry, I'll be alright with that.

"As far as who that guy will be for us, I don't know; we haven't found him yet. I'm flirting around with ideas of certain kids that I think could work for us at that position, but I just haven't decided who it's going to be yet."

Speedster D.J. Anderson (5-7, 140 pounds, 4.6 speed) was also a playmaker at running back last season and averaged about six yards a run on limited carries, but Coach Jackson may opt to use the sophomore at receiver instead.

"I'd like to move (Anderson) around and let him make plays," Jackson said. "He has speed and can really fly, and will probably play a lot of the inside slot receiver for us or maybe give it to him on the jet sweep. I believe he will be more versatile out there for us that way."

DEFENSE

With the addition of two new schools in the conference -- powerhouse Mount Ida (51 wins and a state championship within the last four seasons) and Poyen -- and new coaches at Dierks, Lafayette County, Murfreesboro and Mineral Springs, there are question marks on how defenses will match up going into the 2022-23 campaign.

"It's hard to know what to expect with all the teams in our conference because there's been so many coaching shifts," Jackson said. "I do know we will fight."

However, a couple of things are for sure in Foreman: Lettermen Hayden Ziegler and Rowan Sanchez are returning for the Gators after spectacular showings last fall.

Zeigler received all-conference honors after finishing with 71 tackles -- 12 of those for a loss -- and will split his time at defensive end and inside linebacker.

Playing at cornerback, Sanchez also was recognized with his abilities and was named to the all-conference team. He recorded an interception against Idabel, Oklahoma, last season and recorded six tackles in their 21-14 win over Mineral Springs.

All-conference selection Anderson had a couple of interceptions as well.

Other players to watch out for, include: Lucas Womble at nose; Noah Gauldin at corner; and Kenneth Hanna, who will rotate on the defensive line.